Senior Sales Consultant
Sometimes, you can only grow when you step outside your comfort zone. It’s a saying with a lot of wisdom, but it can be difficult for individuals to put into action. So, what if there was a whole training approach built around getting you outside of your comfort zone? What could you achieve? That’s the thinking behind the NetSuite Solution Consulting Academy.
Senior Sales Consultant, Megan Edwards took part in the academy almost five years ago. It’s where she acquired the skills and relationships that fast-tracked her consulting career to where it is today. We caught up with her about her experiences and what sets Oracle NetSuite apart as a place to work.
Investing in talent
“I had never considered a consulting career before receiving an email from an Oracle recruiter and had no idea what a ‘solution consultant’ was,” she recalls. But she was quickly intrigued once she learned more: “I saw it as a great opportunity to apply my industry experience and work directly with a large variety of businesses.
“I liked the idea that every day on the job would be different—this makes it more challenging, but also more engaging. This is still one of my favorite parts to the role to this day.”
Megan also received many opportunities to meet and network with leadership. It was a standout part of the training for her and communicated an investment in talent development at the very highest levels of the company.
Putting customers first
Making the move to tech was a big step, and Megan found her previous background in the automotive industry meant she was extremely detail-focused at first.
“All my roles were more back-of-house, analytical, and executional in nature. Coming from that kind of an environment, I naturally wanted to explain to someone (in great detail!) how something works in the software.”
However, the expert mentoring she received during academy training meant she was soon able to translate that approach into one that would empower customers.
“Moving into a sales-oriented, customer-focused role, I needed to be able to explain how this feature addresses their problem simply and clearly without getting bogged down in unnecessary details.”
Her academy experience was also the moment she’d been waiting for to grow her presentation abilities.
“I had done a few presentations at my previous companies, but the thought of presenting in front of a group of 20 people was still very nerve-wracking. Now, I present to hundreds of people on occasion. Even though it was difficult at first, I think my comfort level with presenting to large groups is a testament to the program.”
“I am so happy”
“Looking back, almost five years later, I am so happy I went through the program,” Megan reflects. “Some things were uncomfortable for me at first, like frequently presenting in front of my peers. Other things I enjoyed more naturally, like figuring out how specific functions work and creating solutions to problems.”
Above all, she remembers just how practical the program was, and how its lessons continue to benefit her.
“It is a very hands-on program, and through the various phases, it really develops a well-rounded consultant that is equipped for the role.”
Making friends
She also developed strong bonds with her new colleagues that continue to be valuable in her day-to-day duties and beyond.
“The ‘class’ you graduate with will become some of your good friends and a network you will continue to use as a resource even after the academy,” she explains. She also notes a strong focus on broad experience and self-guided professional development.
“The skills you learn translate well into almost anything else you may want to do, because it teaches the right balance of technical and soft skills – a sought after combo in many roles. I have also found the leadership to be very supportive of the direction you choose.”
Continuing to grow
Megan notes the transformation in her career and feels that she’s become more of a strategic, big picture thinker.
“Most people only get the chance to work in a role that uses a very small part of an ERP system. Whereas in this role, you get to experience many different parts of ERP, giving you the unique opportunity to see the big picture of how all the different parts of the system tie together for the company.”
Her advice for anyone following in her footsteps is clear: Go for it! “If you want to challenge yourself, are open to critical (but constructive) feedback, and want to work with external businesses, this program is a remarkable opportunity—they really do invest in you!”
Do you want to bring your unique experiences and abilities to a career in tech just like Megan did? Explore our latest opportunities today and come create the future with us.